Visit to Brazil, Argentina highlights local opportunities

Published
7:00 pm CDT, Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Economic Alliance Houston Port Region President Jan Lawler joined a group of regional leaders recently on a trade mission to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina, headed by Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson.

The alliance, located on Main Street in La Porte, participated, Lawler said, “To help build the business connections needed in some of the economic sectors we are working with, such as the coffee, petrochemical and trade industries. We were able to meet with key business leaders in Brazil and Argentina to begin establishing relationships we feel will be of mutual interest in the future, to both economies.

“By working with the secretary of state’s office, we were able to demonstrate the serious commitment at all levels, including our local communities, our Gulf Coast region and our state, to grow international commerce,” Lawler said. Besides representation by the alliance, the visiting group from Texas included members of the Governor’s Office, the Office of the Comptroller for the State of Texas, the Greater Houston Partnership, the Houston Airport System, the Texas One Marketing Team, and several local firms.

Currently, the economies of Brazil and Argentina are showing rapid growth and expansion, and the Texas delegation sought to establish closer business relations with the two countries at this pivotal time.

The Texas group offered information to Brazil officials on how to do business in Texas. The delegation also promoted location and expansion opportunities in the state, worked to foster trade relationships, and learned the best practices for doing business with Brazil.

With Wilson in the lead role, the group organized an “Invest in Texas” seminar, discussing with Brazilian officials the many advantages of locating in Texas. They also outlined various state programs and incentives available to Brazilian companies looking to locate in the Lone Star State.

In 2007, for the sixth consecutive year, Texas ranked as North America’s leader in exports, totaling some $168 billion. Brazil is the eighth largest export destination, totaling some $4 billion in 2007. Investments from Latin America in 2005 were $7.5 billion, and about 15 percent of that came from Brazil.

It was pointed out to Argentine and Brazilian officials that Texas has one of the lowest tax burdens in the U.S. - 28 percent lower than the national average. It was also explained that the state has no personal income tax, no state tax on property used for pollution control, no tax on goods in transit, and no state tax on machinery and equipment utilized in manufacturing.

With Brazil currently being Texas’ eighth largest trading partner, two major investments from Brazil occurred in this region in 2007. There was a $500 million investment by Petrobras and a $200 million investment by Votorantin, both in Pasadena.

Wilson pointed out to Brazilian officials that while the country’s economy is currently growing at a rate of 5 percent per year, Texas can help increase that growth. Wilson noted that the Lone Star State has a slogan: “Texas Is Wide Open For Business.”

The Economic Alliance provides economic development services and is funded by 12 chambers of commerce; Harris County; the Port of Houston Authority; private sector members; the cities of La Porte, Shoreacres, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, South Houston, Deer Park, Baytown, Seabrook, Pearland, Galena Park, Baytown and Jacinto City; as well as communities of Channelview, Sheldon, South Belt-Ellington and North Shore.

Since early 2004 until the current time, the Economic Alliance has helped bring approximately $100 million of capital investment to the area. The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region is also known for its quality of life urban revitalization master plan, titled Project Stars, which has been championed by mayors of the port region and Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia.

For more information about the economic development services or membership, contact Lawler at 281-867-1112 or visit website www.allianceportregion.com.